Manuel, Valentia & Wanda

[x-empath.livejournal.com]

Manuel and Valentia visit Wanda and they talk about powers, moving forward while putting a puzzle together.

"I cannot believe you convinced me to clear off my coffee table," Wanda sighed, sliding down from the couch to the floor. Using the couch to support her back, she managed to get her legs under the table in front of her as she glared playfully at Manuel. He'd stopped by a little while ago bearing his sister and a number of puzzles; Wanda had put on the kettle and let the little girl poke around in her fridge for something to eat before they settled down in her living room.

"Yes well--" Manuel started, picking up a puzzle piece and trying for a side. Unfortunately, there were many that looked the same. "I never pictured myself convincing you to clear off your coffee table for a puzzle either." They had brought a very complicated puzzle and while it was busy, it had an easier aspect to it than most others with their redundancy.

It had been a while since Wanda had done a puzzle - her free time was never really 'free' these days. She squinted at the piece in her hand, eyes going back to what they had formed already, trying to see where it would fit. "Who knew I had the perfect wine to go with this activity?" she asked, grinning.

Wanda always had the perfect drink to go with every activity. It was a secret mutant power.

"Who knew you had it in you to do such an activity," Manuel countered and he found another piece, inspecting it, then the box on where it could possibly go. The problem with this puzzle was that all the pieces fit perfectly together and made up a series of very interesting pictures, but it was the pictures that had to match. Naturally the wine helped Wanda. Manuel passed on alcohol when he was in the presence of his sister as it did not set a very good example, especially when they had to drive home.

Valentia reached over and plucked a piece from Manuel's hand and took it for her own section of puzzle that she was building. He simpley picked another piece. "When I picked this puzzle, I thought it was easy. Either I am gettng older or--"

"Or you have been spending far too many hours doing other things than puzzles," Wanda teased, handing over another section to the younger de la Rocha before hunting out a greyish blue one that looked like it could be cement, building or sky. "But it is rather relaxing when you are not completely stumped by the puzzle makers."

"What is it you know and why are you keeping it from me?" He smiled. It came easier now, that smile and the weight seemed to have disipated from his shoulders earlier in the week. A glint in the usual dark pools of his eyes.

Wanda lofitly waved her hand in the air as she sniffed. "Please try to remember that I know all and see all," she remarked back with a grin. "Actually, I simply default to assuming that most people are indeed up to something. Am I wrong in this case?"

"Mmmm," came his thoughtful agreement and he turned over a piece, connecting it to one of Valentia's, who made a slight sound at the wrong piece put in the wrong place. She promptly removed it and set it aside as Manuel selected another and repeated this action. Silent sibling bantering. "I had a specific interaction that heightened my control, I suppose you could say. It was very... enlightening."

She watched the two of them with what was amusement and a bit of regret. There hadn't been much money growing up for games such as this but she and Pietro had managed much the same growing up. It had been a while since she had seen him. "Enlightening?" Wanda repeated, musing over the word. "Well, I suppose congratulations are in order then?"

Wanda smirked, just a bit, trying to guess at exactly what had caused this enlightenment.

He felt the shift, that regret in her emotions but it was vivid in comparison to his distracted concentration on his sister's emotions. His gaze flickered up at her briefly and he passed her a piece. "It is not important of who but since you are dying to know and I am inclined to indulge your every whim, Carmilla Black."

At that, an eyebrow crept up. "Carmilla? Really? Well, that is an interesting pairing but you seem to be happy enough. Also, my every whim, hmm? Careful, Manuel, I will have to remember that one." At the news, whatever regret shifted to complete amusement.

"Do not think it is anything beyond what it was. The woman is absolutly revolting as a person, however when her mouth is full--" he left that there seeing as there was his sister right next to him. Clearing his throat,he looked back down atthe puzzle, moving one piece of the puzzle to another part, purposely in the wrong place again. Valentia leaned over and fixed it.

"I believe there is nothing you forget, Senora."

Wanda tapped the side of her nose and winked at that last line, amused. She glanced over at Valentia and shelved any of the more interesting questions she had - not that she wanted details. Manuel had been a student while she had been at Xavier's. Their emerging friendship was a pleasant surprise but there were things that were still a little disturbing in context.

"In more general terms, how did this interaction cause a heightened sense of control?"

"She is insufferably loud, emotionally, even more so. It just so happened that I caught her in a particular mood and it pushed mine into an overdrive. Combine us and you have only one possible outcome." He finished a corner of the puzzle and handed one piece to Valentia, tapping it to a certain spot. She complied, but shook her head that it didn't fit. "At that point, I was willing to take anything. I have been walking around as a ghost since I woke."

"So, you are saying - and let me get this straight - that until Carmilla came along that your life was vague and listless. Ghostlike as you say." Wanda's head was down as she hunted for the right spot to put the puzzle piece in her hands. "Manuel, I am saddened and delighted to tell you that in some countries they call that love." She shifted moved her legs a safe distance away.

Manuel set his piece down, utterly serious in his tone. "Please do not. No," he said, immediately cutting off that ridiculous notion. "I am not in love. I meant that I have not been interested in anyone since Ive woken." He scoffed, knowing how much that statement did not help his cause. "Her emotions charged mine, ones that I have not been --" he stopped himself here and rubbed his hands together. "I am not in love Wanda. Please do not ever suggest that again."

"I mock because I care," Wanda replied solemnly with just a hint of a smile. Which, considering her relationship with Jake, was incredibly true. "Love or not in this case, the fact that you are happier now than before? Does deserve some congratulations. Even if it is not in the normal regard." Her smile grew as Manuel's sister seriously handed her another piece of the puzzle. "Though to be honest, I think things started to get a little easier for you when you brought Valentia over."

"Powers aside, she has given me purpose," Manuel admitted, also handed another piece. "She does not give me time to sit down and think. Instead, she keeps me moving and I would much rather be bound to her than any other woman. Amanda was enough."

"Mmm." The less said about the former relationship, the better. "So now it is only upward movement for you? It sounds like you have broken through a few of the barriers that were preventing that."

"Amongst other things," Manuel said. "There can only be one of two directions to move when coming out of a coma. Death or awakening. Not all are fortunate for the latter. Speaking of which, have you spoken with Jennie? She has been very quiet as of late."

Manuel had some disturbing segways. "I have been traveling a lot," Wanda admitted, sitting back with a frown. "So, no, I have not talked with her in a little while. I was planning on stopping by when things quieted down a little bit, both for the X-Men and for myself. Perhaps I should stop in sooner..."

"Better you than I. I am afraid things will never be the same between us." Jennie will always feel guilty and Manuel will always feel some sense of misplaced protective guardianship.

Wanda felt her own stab of guilt. Jennie might still take 'lessons' from her on powers - mutual training, at times - but she had grown up. But maybe Wanda should have been checking in on her more often. "I'll stop by soon," she promised firmly. "I have not seen Jennie, or any of the others, in quite some time. Something that I'll have to remedy."

She gave him a look. "You probably would also appreciate not having to travel out here so often, hmm?"

He returned her look. "I enjoy the change of emotional scenary, if we must seek out something positive in it. Valentia does too, otherwise, she would not be tolerating us messing up her puzzle so much."

As if on cue, Valentia sighed to them, which Manuel translated. "She says I am not good at puzzles, that you are better."

Wanda patted Valentia on the head. "That is because she is wise," she said smugly. "That, and I bribe her when you're not looking."

"I assumed it was either cookies or alcohol. Though if it is the drink, we may be having a serious discussion in the future," he scolded.